Boulder adds public hearing on pot tax proposal

A public hearing on taxing recreational marijuana has been added to Tuesday's Boulder City Council meeting agenda.

The City Council is considering a proposal to tax recreational marijuana at more than 26 percent at today's meeting, which starts at 6 p.m. at the Boulder Municipal Building, 1777 Broadway.

Boulder officials want to ask voters for a 10 percent sales tax on retail pot, which would be added to a 10 percent state sales tax, both of which would be in addition to the 6.31 percent general sales tax. They also want voters to sign off on an excise tax of up to 15 percent. Excise taxes could be collected on grow operations and manufactured product facilities that produce marijuana in Boulder but sell it elsewhere.

Industry representatives say such a high tax rate could encourage the continued existence of a black market in marijuana, and they called on the city to pursue only an excise tax.